Shared-patient physician networks and their impact on the uptake of genomic testing in breast cancer.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Factors influencing the adoption of genomic testing are poorly understood, which may lead to inequitable and suboptimal treatment in cancer patients. Oncotype DX (ODX) is one of the first and most widely used genomic assays to stratify risk in women with early-stage breast cancer (BC). Physician networks have emerged as a significant and modifiable driver of emerging medical technology adoption.

Objective

To investigate the association between physician network connections and the use of ODX testing.

Methods

A retrospective study of women diagnosed with BC using SEER-Medicare from 2008 to 2012 was used. Medical oncologists were "connected" if they shared two or more patients during the early-adoption period (2008-2009). Parallel physician- and patient-level

SUBMITTER: Rotter J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6556129 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature